The best possible thing you can do about daycare abuse is to avoid it happening. There are signs that you should be wary of, and you should take anything that gives you pause as reason to, perhaps, consider another facility for your child. Abuse can take many forms, from mental to verbal to physical and sexual. If you believe that your child has been the victim of such abuse, you should contact an attorney after removing them from that facility. The warning signs are sometimes subtle, but they also have aspects to them that should be obvious once you know what to look for.
Unqualified Staff
Every person who works in a daycare facility should be certified for their job according to state and federal requirements. Don’t be afraid to ask if this is the case when you interview the daycare facility. Professional establishments will not only be happy to show you their qualifications, they’ll generally offer to do so on their own.
Unknown Staff
Every single member of a daycare facility’s staff has to undergo a background check to ensure safety. In some facilities, only the actual childcare providers are given this sort of attention. Ask the facility if the janitors, bus drivers and other support staff have been background checked. If not, take your child elsewhere.
Inadequate Supervision
It’s preferable if every member of a daycare staff is under the supervision of other members whenever they’re engaged in their duties. Be wary of facilities that have private rooms and places where children may be taken on their own. The more open the facility, the better. This also provides your child with a healthy social environment.
The Children at the Facility
Look around at the children at the facility. Do they seem happy? Children are naturally boisterous. If they seem unnaturally subdued, it can be a sign that someone is far too harsh on them. If they seem unsupervised and to be running wild, it’s a sign that the facility may not provide adequate supervision and guidance to their charges.
A daycare abuse law firm will take your case if your child is abused, but everyone would rather that it never happened. You can avoid this by simply taking a look around the facilities you inspect for the above-mentioned warning signs. There are others, as well, and remember that your parental instincts should be heeded.